Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We spoke earlier about the role of the mayor and why we submitted those amendments. We were concerned that the mayor would potentially be a celebrity-type mayor who is elected and devolves a great many of the powers to the CEO, and could take on a second job. We tried to stop that. Those amendments were defeated. We believe this is a new position that should be a beacon across the State. Waterford rejected it in a plebiscite in 2019, as did Cork. Limerick narrowly accepted it. We campaigned for it and it is going ahead. If we had delivered a stronger mayor with defined roles, who cannot devolve the responsibilities given to him or her and cannot take on a second job if he or she wishes, we would have a stronger mayor that other counties and local authorities would then demand for themselves by plebiscite.

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